Deepen Your Yoga Practice

In this episode, Lauren sits down with Dr. Auburn Ellis —an E-RYT 500, educator, and founder of Soul Yoga Fest KC —to explore the roots and power of Kemetic Yoga, breathwork, and inclusive practice. Together, they unpack how yoga evolves across a lifetime, how cultural lineage shapes practice, and how breath becomes a source of true internal power—on and off the mat. Dr. Auburn shares her journey...

Why does yoga work? Not in the sense of magical claims or wellness hype—but genuinely, why do so many people feel better when they practice consistently? In this episode, Lauren explores the deeper mechanisms behind yoga’s transformative power through the lenses of nervous system regulation, breath, embodiment, ritual, movement variability, interoception, community, and spirituality. This conversa...

What makes a yoga class truly transformational? Why do some classes stay with us for years—even when we can’t remember the exact sequence? In this episode, Lauren explores the deeper elements that create meaningful, lasting experiences in yoga spaces. Beyond advanced postures or perfectly designed sequences, transformational classes are often built through nervous system safety, authentic teacher...

In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice , Lauren Leduc explores some of the most common physiological claims made in yoga spaces and asks: Are they actually true? From detox claims to inversions, immunity, lymphatic flow, and the pineal gland, this episode takes a thoughtful, evidence-based look at what yoga does and does not do for the body. Inspired by The Physiology of Yoga by Andrew McGon...

Shownotes In this episode, Lauren sits down with True Love Yoga Teacher Training graduate Kayla Hower to explore her journey into yoga, her experience in teacher training, and her upcoming workshop centered around creativity and self-connection. Kayla shares how yoga evolved from an occasional workout into a grounding, life-supporting practice—especially through motherhood and her work in communit...

What does it mean to return —not just to a place, but to yourself? In this episode, Lauren explores the practice of returning through the lens of yoga, ritual, and retreat. She shares her personal journey of leading retreats on the Greek island of Amorgos and why she continues to go back—not for novelty, but for depth, connection, and remembrance. This conversation weaves together: The yogic conce...

In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice , Lauren Leduc closes out the chakra series with an exploration of the Crown Chakra (Sahasrara) —the center of awareness, unity, and connection to universal consciousness. Unlike the lower chakras, which focus on building safety, identity, expression, and agency, the crown chakra invites us to soften our grip on all of it . It is not about becoming some...

In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice , Lauren Leduc explores one of yoga’s most foundational teachings: Ahimsa , or non-harming. While Ahimsa is often translated simply as “be kind” or “do no harm,” the reality is far more complex—especially in modern life. What does non-harming mean in a world where participation itself creates impact? How do we live ethically when harm is, at times, unav...

In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice , Lauren Leduc takes a deep dive into one of the most talked-about areas in yoga: the hips . Many yoga students describe their hips as “tight” or believe they need to “open” them more. But hip health is far more complex than simply stretching deeper. The hips are powerful load-bearing joints that influence posture, low back health, knee alignment, balan...

In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice , Lauren Leduc explores one of the most important and often misunderstood questions in yoga philosophy: Does yoga teach that we are separate from the world, or that we are one with it? This conversation dives into two foundational philosophical frameworks that shape the way yoga has been understood for thousands of years: dualism and non-dualism . Laure...

In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice , Lauren Leduc explores the koshas , the five layers or sheaths of the self in yogic philosophy. If you have ever felt physically fine but emotionally drained, mentally overwhelmed but spiritually clear, or energized but disconnected, this episode offers a framework for understanding those layered experiences. Yoga has long taught that we are not just a...

In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice , Lauren Leduc continues her chakra series with the third eye chakra , also known as Ajna — the chakra of intuition, insight, discernment, and perception. Located between the eyebrows, the third eye is often associated with inner wisdom and clear seeing. But in this episode, Lauren approaches it not as mystical abstraction, but as a grounded and practic...

In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice , Lauren Leduc breaks down the shoulder in a way that is practical, accessible, and grounded in sustainable movement. This is Shoulders 101 — an anatomy-forward conversation about mobility, stability, pain patterns, and how to care for your shoulders in yoga and daily life. Lauren explains that the shoulder is not just one joint, but a complex system of...

In this tender and nuanced episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice , Lauren Leduc explores the structure of spiritual leadership — and what happens when charismatic teachers fall from grace. Every few years (or lately, every few days), a spiritual teacher, wellness figure, or thought leader becomes entangled in allegations of misconduct, abuse of power, or ethical breach. When their work has meant so...

In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice , Lauren Leduc explores two often-overlooked senses that transform yoga from movement into embodiment: interoception and proprioception . Interoception is your ability to sense what’s happening inside your body — breath, heartbeat, hunger, emotional sensations, effort versus strain. Proprioception is your ability to sense where your body is in space — b...

In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice , Lauren Leduc explores the five kleshas — the root causes of suffering described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (Book II, Sutras 3–9). These ancient psychological insights, compiled around 400 CE and influenced by Samkhya philosophy, offer a powerful framework for understanding why we repeat patterns, cling to identities, avoid discomfort, and fear ch...

n this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice , Lauren Leduc explores the throat chakra (Vishuddha) — the energetic center of expression, authenticity, and refinement. Rather than approaching the throat chakra as a mystical abstraction, Lauren presents it as a deeply practical bridge between the heart and the mind — where inner truth becomes outer speech. You’ll learn: The traditional symbolism of V...

In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice , Lauren Leduc explores what it means to “spring clean” the energetic body — in a way that is philosophically grounded, nervous system informed, practical, and free from magical thinking. Spring is traditionally associated with renewal, circulation, and momentum. In Ayurveda, it is kapha season — characterized by heaviness, dampness, and stagnation. In...

In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice , Lauren Leduc breaks down what it actually means to “engage your core” in yoga. Spoiler alert: it’s not just about abs or holding your breath. Lauren walks you through: What muscles make up the core (hint: it’s not just your six-pack) The difference between bracing vs. hollowing Breath-friendly strategies for core engagement How and when to use Uddiyan...

In this solo episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice , Lauren Leduc explores five of the most commonly repeated myths about yoga history—and offers a clearer, more honest perspective in their place. Drawing inspiration from Doug Keller’s Yoga History course, Lauren dives into the real roots of yoga, from Vedic texts and Śramaṇa traditions to modern postural yoga. She explains how yoga evolved over ce...

In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice , Lauren Leduc breaks down the science of stretching—what it is, how it works, and how to make it safer and more effective within your yoga practice. Learn about the role of your nervous system, fascia, and five key types of stretching (static, dynamic, active, passive, and resistance/PNF), and walk away with tools to stretch mindfully and intelligently...

In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice , Lauren Leduc continues her chakra series by diving into the heart chakra—Anahata, the center of love, integration, and emotional wisdom. She explores how the heart serves as a bridge between the lower and upper chakras, connects the physical and spiritual self, and reflects the qualities of compassion with boundaries. Lauren shares signs of imbalance,...

Is it true that we store trauma in our hips? In this thoughtful solo episode, Lauren unpacks a commonly repeated phrase in yoga classes: “we store emotion in the hips.” She explores where this idea comes from, whether it’s metaphorical or literal, and what both science and yoga philosophy actually say. Drawing from her own experience, current neuroscience, fascia research, and classical yogic teac...

n this deeply grounded and timely episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice , Lauren Leduc explores the experience of moral injury, political despair, and nervous system exhaustion through a yogic and trauma‑informed lens. Naming the quiet undercurrent many people are carrying—grief, unease, confusion, and ethical disorientation—Lauren offers language, compassion, and structure for staying human, regul...

In this heartfelt episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice , Lauren Leduc explores the concept of Dharma —your soul's sacred path—and how yoga can help you uncover and align with your purpose. She offers yogic definitions of Dharma and Swadharma, draws on teachings from the Bhagavad Gita , and shares signs of alignment and misalignment in body, mind, and spirit. Lauren invites listeners to explore the...